DisturbedReefer
New member
Skimmer has been running for a few days now, still under powered, but it's working great! Can't wait to get the new air pump this week
Large Airpump Driver Skimmer
- Thread starter biggt 2k1
- Start date
DisturbedReefer
New member
Got the new pump (Alita AL-80) wednesday, put a bleed off so I can bleed off air as needed, though it seems to be running just fine without any bleed off. Here are a few shots for you.
causeofhim
New member
That thing is AWESOME!!!! So was the final cost $400?
Well i just went over for a inspection, and I was pretty impressed once again w/ these big stones from aquaticeco. This thing pretty much looks like a 29g jug of milk w/ a collection cup. Most of the bubbles are in the 1 to 2MM range with a few running around that are a little bigger. They are not as small as what you get from limestone but for the ease of maintenance an how much less pressure required to run the stones it is a good tradeoff. As far as cost goes it was pretty reasonable, the skimmer was made for around 300 bux not including pump.
Well this pump was pretty spendy at 280, but you could get a much louder one for under 200 that has similar flow. This pump is very quiet for a air pump, you can hear it but it is less anoying then say a little tetra for a FW tank. The box is made from 3/8" acrylic and does not bow a smidge. The top and bottom are 1/4" sheet, the tube is 1/4" thick cell cast, and the flanges are all 3/8" I am going to have to make one for my self as well Covey.
Covey
New member
I am think of building one for my 75g. I was thinking more around 4' with a box cup like the Deltec MC series. So basically like the bottom half your skimmer. I like those airstone. I checked out those sweetwater pumps and they could really save some running cost over the becketts I was considering. More pics please.
CaptainCoral
New member
Wow, that last pic says it all. These new air skimmers are changing everything. A special shovel probably needs to be fabricated to get that mud out of the cup.
zapata41
In Memoriam
are you having any problems with the skimmer water height changing when you change the gatevavle or hartford loop height. i havea very similar skimmer, holds 15g and is powered by a 65lpm air pump driving a 6"x6"x2" limewood cube stone. if i turn the air up and use it at 100% air then i get a very fluctuation water height in the skimmer neck and also havea hard time changing the water level.
there is a pic of the setup, that is a G2 next to it for size. but how i have it set now i am bleeding off atleast 50% of the air and still have the full 16" neck full of tiny bubbles, less than 1mm and they move quite slow, it seems to skim very dry for the most part but when i feed it really blows the gunk out. i cleaned the skimmer twice now in the week that it has been running and the neck and cup are not see through brown.
Tim
there is a pic of the setup, that is a G2 next to it for size. but how i have it set now i am bleeding off atleast 50% of the air and still have the full 16" neck full of tiny bubbles, less than 1mm and they move quite slow, it seems to skim very dry for the most part but when i feed it really blows the gunk out. i cleaned the skimmer twice now in the week that it has been running and the neck and cup are not see through brown.
Tim
A Reef Scene
New member
Great skimmer
Covey, sounds cool but also sounds like a lot of work to have a square neck and cup. You know that the 6" and under tube is relativly inexpensive and can be had from mcmaster.com What would you like to see more pix of?
Steve68, it is running pretty wet despite the neck build up. We will be adding a wetneck shortly to keep the buildup and cleaning to a minimum.
Zap, if you set your output up like this one you will have no problem w/ fluxing water level. This skimmer water level is solid as a rock. You output is interesting, how did you come up w/ that?
Steve68, it is running pretty wet despite the neck build up. We will be adding a wetneck shortly to keep the buildup and cleaning to a minimum.
Zap, if you set your output up like this one you will have no problem w/ fluxing water level. This skimmer water level is solid as a rock. You output is interesting, how did you come up w/ that?
zapata41
In Memoriam
well it is a hartford loop that you set the water level to the max height and then open the gate valve if needed to fine tune and lower the water level. i might try setting it up like you show but as it is right now i have the gate valve closed 100%, so it is like not even having a gate valve there, i just slide the riser up or down to fine tune the water level
Tim
Tim
merlock116
New member
zapata41 said:
a hartford loop sets the minimum height. you close the gate valve to put backpressure to make the water level higher.
I see that you riser neck diameter is fairly large. You might want to use a smaller diameter neck <3" to make adjustments easier
merlock116
New member
oh and definitely put the gate valve before the siphon break T.
keefsama2003
In Memoriam
i have a 5' diy air skimmer made out of white pvc i just need a air pump im using 4" pvc and have 4 limewood airstones in the bottom but i need a good pump just havent been able to find a good one thats not over 100$ any suggestions.?
causeofhim
New member
I heard Luft makes a good one for this size skimmer. I have no experience with Luft, just what I heard.
Similar threads
